Lift Kingsley

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 March 2025

Kingsley Academy is a highly welcoming and inclusive school. The school provides a caring community where pupils feel happy and safe. The school's values of kindness, courage and curiosity underpin its ethos. Pupils are polite and courteous. They are respectful to each other and school staff. Students in the sixth form are well mannered and support their younger peers. The school provides a broad range of enrichment activities and trips so that pupils gain valuable life experiences. These include school culture days, where pupils dress to represent their unique identity and explore the music, food and traditions of different cultures. Pupils take part in three 'character development days' throughout the year. During these days, pupils are encouraged to undertake different projects with external agencies around themes such as anti-bullying and careers. These events develop pupils' confidence, empathy and perseverance. The school has high expectations for its pupils. Staff are determined that their pupils can succeed. This ambition includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils develop secure subject knowledge which results in positive outcomes, particularly at GCSE. The school provides strong pastoral support and a thoughtfully designed careers programme. Pupils appreciate the guidance they are given and are prepared well for their next steps.

What the school should improve

• Teaching does not consistently adapt to meet the needs of pupils who have secured important knowledge and are ready to move on. This means that, at times, pupils do not learn the curriculum in the depth they could. The school should ensure that teachers adapt their pedagogical methods as needed to stretch and challenge pupils. They should ensure there are ample opportunities for pupils to test out, apply and experiment with new ideas both orally and in practice.
• Teaching in the sixth form does not securely build students' independence and critical thinking skills across all subjects. As a result, some students struggle to effectively link new knowledge to different situations. The school should ensure that teachers prepare sixth-form students for academic success by encouraging them to draw their own interpretations and ideas from their independent study and apply these confidently through critical discussion.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)